Summer Time Feeling - Effect Radio

I hope you guys are having that “Summertime Feeling” like the song we play on the Effect radio by We are Leo.

Summer is once again thrown upon us with our already busy schedules. Most of us will be finding ourselves busy between our outdoor chores like gardening, while also planning weekend outdoor getaways to take advantage of the warmer days. Then parents are caught between a whole new dilemma of trying to keep kids entertained without allowing them to spend hours playing video games while devouring bags of Doritos. Personally, I try my best to find fun activities; Vacation Bible School, church camp, swim teams, and rock climbing. Seeking activities to help prevent my kids from burning down my house, hopefully coming home exhausted and ready for bed.

Whatever side of the spectrum you are experiencing there is one thing that is true of summer; church attendance goes way down during these hot months. Which leads me to question, “Should we be allowing our busy summer to influence our church fellowship?” Before you go into defensive mode by saying church attendance doesn't make you a Christian, please hear me out on this subject before passing judgment. If you read my article towards the beginning of the year, you may recall me reminding you to rest in Jesus in 2025. Now it's over halfway into summer vacation, so how are you doing now?

We make time. There I said it. Start by prioritizing what needs to be accomplished during this summer break. There are ways to enjoy family summertime while also supporting your local church and church members. Try listening to the Bible being read while out on that summer hike or walk. Reach out to a church member for an outdoor outing or host a church BBQ! Get your kids into VBS, Awana, Bible Bee, or the local youth group to get them with Christian friends.

Now, to circle back around to church attendance, I was raised to attend church every Sunday- unless I was sick- so maybe my view is a bit more biased than others. However, the church I grew up with would decide on some summer weekends - 4th of July, Memorial Day, and Labor Day- to literally close the church down so families could enjoy vacation guilt free. Don't get me wrong, I do believe churches should stay open for those that might not have families and don't want to be alone on Holiday weekends. It's also fascinating to me that the church from my childhood encouraged these outdoor activities as they saw these activities just as important as going to church. I grew up experiencing camping with other friends from church. We would spend time sharing stories around the campfire after a long day of kayaking and swimming in the mountain lake. I don't know about you, but I would say that was fellowship.

So wherever you find that summertime feeling, remember to always make time for Jesus and Christian fellowship.